England
Suffolk

Aldeburgh

Summary
A seaside village most commonly associated with the music festival begun by Benjamin Britten. The Aldeburgh Festival brings thousands of music aficionados to this small Suffolk village each summer, and the success of the Festival has spawned a year-long series of arts and cultural events.

What to see
The seashore and surrounding areas are a haven for wildlife, and have been designated an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The wetlands around Aldeburgh are home to marsh harrier and bitterns, here an endangered species. The 15th century parish church boasts the tomb of composer Benjamin Britten (see below), as well as a bust of poet George Crabbe, who was born here in 1794. Crabbe provided the inspiration for Britten's celebrated opera Peter Grimes. Britten is buried in the north of the churchyard.

The church is worth a visit for its own sake, though rather a hodgepodge of styles. The bulk of the building dates to the 16th century, with a lot of 19th and 20th century work. The striking tower emphasizes the unusually broad nave, lit by Perpendicular windows. The octagonal pulpit is of oak, and dates to 1632.

Aldeburgh is blessed with a lovely shingle beach, and fresh seafood can be purchased from fishing boats pulled up to the shingle. The Royal National Lifeboat Station affords an opportunity to view the famous Aldeburgh lifeboats up close. Aldeburgh has been a major RNL station on the Suffolk coast since 1851.

Nearby Slaughden shingle is home to the most northerly Martello tower in England. These squat towers were built to provide coastal defense against possible invasion by Napoleon. In the village the Moot Hall dates to the 16th century, and hosts a small local museum.

Although perhaps not reason in itself to visit Aldeburgh, the local Fish and Chip Shop was named best in Britain in a poll by the Observer newspaper.

The Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts
The Festival sprang from a desire by founders Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears, and Eric Crozier to find a home for their touring opera company, the English Opera Group. In 1948 the trio established a music Festival at Aldeburgh, and the intervening decades have seen Aldeburgh become synonymous with new music. Each June rising young artists are given the opportunity to showcase their talents and break new ground in musical repertoire and interpretation of old and new works. The festival is now operated by Aldeburgh Productions. Many of the major festival productions now take place, not at Aldeburgh itself, but at Snape Maltings, 5 miles distant.

Resources
Aldeburgh Tourist Information Centre
152 High Street
Aldeburgh
Suffolk
IP15 5AQ
Tel: 01728 453637
Fax: 01728 453637
website
Location map

Related:
East Anglia